System and Method for Displaying Images and Videos Found on the Internet as a Result of a Search Engine

ABSTRACT

In response to entering a screensaver mode of operation, a search criteria identifying requested subject matter is transmitted to a search engine. A set of uniform resource locators are returned based upon the search criteria. A display image at a display device is updated periodically to display information referenced by the uniform resource locator.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to data processing and moreparticularly to providing display images.

BACKGROUND

Current screensavers display dynamic images or a sequence of imagesdefined at a specific storage location of a data processing device. Ascreensaver providing more flexibility to a user would be useful.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporatingteachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respectto the drawings presented herein, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a communication system inaccordance with a specific embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram of a method in accordance with aspecific embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a method in accordance with aspecific embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates a preference window in accordance with a specificembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a method in accordance with aspecific embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates a set of links in accordance with a specificembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a sequence of images sequentially displayed at adisplay device in accordance with a specific embodiment of the presentdisclosure disclosed at FIG. 8;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of a method in accordance with aspecific embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a sequence of images sequentially displayed at adisplay device in accordance with a specific embodiment of the presentdisclosure disclosed at FIG. 10;

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow diagram of a method in accordance with aspecific embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 illustrates a flow diagram of a method in accordance with aspecific embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 illustrates a sequence of images sequentially displayed at adisplay device in accordance with a specific embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 13 illustrates an image in accordance with a specific embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 14 illustrates an image in accordance with a specific embodiment ofthe present disclosure; and

FIG. 15 illustrates a block diagram of a general computer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will bedescribed with particular reference to the presently preferred exampleembodiments. However, it should be understood that this class ofembodiments provides only a few examples of the many advantageous usesof the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in thespecification of the present application do not necessarily delimit anyof the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may applyto some inventive features but not to others.

In accordance with a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, ascreensaver module at a data processor implements a screensaver mode ofoperation at a display device connected to the data processor. Thescreensaver module can be implemented at the data processor as eitherhardware or software. During screensaver mode, a search query isautomatically initiated by the screensaver module based upon searchcriteria. Results of the search query are sequentially displayed at adisplay device during the screensaver mode. The screensaver modedescribed herein can be implemented at various data processing devicesof the communication system 100 illustrated at FIG. 1.

The communication system 100 includes an IPTV system 100. The IPTVsystem include various data processing device at which the screensavermode described herein can be implemented, including: a personalcommunication device e.g., cell phone 184; user personal computer 184;set-top box 116; and set-top box 124. The IPTV system 100 furtherincludes a client facing tier 102, an application tier 104, anacquisition tier 106, and an operations and management tier 108. Eachtier 102, 104, 106, and 108 is connected to one or both of a privatenetwork 110 and a public network 112. For example, the client-facingtier 102 can be connected to the private network 110, while theapplication tier 104 can be connected to the private network 110 and tothe public network 112, such as the Internet. The acquisition tier 106can also be connected to the private network 110 and to the publicnetwork 112. Moreover, the operations and management tier 108 can beconnected to the public network 112.

The various tiers 102, 104, 106 and 108 communicate with each other viathe private network 110 and the public network 112. For instance, theclient-facing tier 102 can communicate with the application tier 104 andthe acquisition tier 106 via the private network 110. The applicationtier 104 can also communicate with the acquisition tier 106 via theprivate network 110. Further, the application tier 104 can communicatewith the acquisition tier 106 and the operations and management tier 108via the public network 112. Moreover, the acquisition tier 106 cancommunicate with the operations and management tier 108 via the publicnetwork 112. In a particular embodiment, elements of the applicationtier 104 can communicate directly with the client-facing tier 102.

The client-facing tier 102 can communicate with user equipment via aprivate access network 166, such as an Internet Protocol Television(IPTV) network, to access various sources illustrated at FIG. 1 orotherwise accessible via the private network 110 or the public network112. In an illustrative embodiment, modems such as a first modem 114 anda second modem 122 can be connected to the private access network 166.The client-facing tier 102 can communicate with a first representativemultimedia processing device, such as set-top box (STB) device 116 viathe first modem 114 and with a second representative multimediaprocessing device, such as set-top box device 124 and user personalcomputer 177 via the second modem 122. The client-facing tier 102 cancommunicate with a large number of set-top boxes over a wide geographicarea, such as a regional area, a metropolitan area, a viewing area, orany other suitable geographic area that can be supported by networkingthe client-facing tier 102 to numerous set-top box devices. In oneembodiment, the client-facing tier 102 can be connected to the modems114 and 122 via fiber optic cables. Alternatively, the modems 114 and122 can be digital subscriber line (DSL) modems that are connected toone or more network nodes via twisted pairs, and the client-facing tier102 can be connected to the network nodes via fiber-optic cables. Eachset-top box device 116 and 124 can process data received from theprivate access network 166 via an IPTV software platform such asMicrosoft® TV IPTV Edition.

The first set-top box device 116 can be connected to a first displaydevice 118, such as a first television monitor, and the second set-topbox device 124 can be connected to a second display device 126, such asa second television monitor. Moreover, the first set-top box device 116can communicate with a first remote control 120, and the second set-topbox device can communicate with a second remote control 128. In anexemplary, non-limiting embodiment, each set-top box device 116 and 124can receive data or video from the client-facing tier 102 via theprivate access network 166 and render or display the data or video atthe display device 118 or 126 to which it is connected. The set-top boxdevices 116 and 124 thus may include tuners that receive and decodetelevision programming information for transmission to the displaydevices 118 and 126. Further, the set-top box devices 116 and 124 caninclude an STB processor 170 and an STB memory device 172 that isaccessible to the STB processor. In a particular embodiment, the set-topbox devices 116 and 124 can also communicate commands received from theremote controls 120 and 128 back to the client-facing tier 102 via theprivate access network 166.

In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier 102 can include aclient-facing tier (CFT) switch 130 that manages communication betweenthe client-facing tier 102 and the private access network 166 andbetween the client-facing tier 102 and the private network 110. Asshown, the CFT switch 130 is connected to one or more data servers 132that store data transmitted in response to user requests, such asvideo-on-demand material. The CFT switch 130 can also be connected to aterminal server 134 that provides terminal devices, such as a gameapplication server and other devices with a common connection point tothe private network 110. In a particular embodiment, the CFT switch 130can also be connected to a video-on-demand (VOD) server 136.

The application tier 104 can communicate with both the private network110 and the public network 112. In this embodiment, the application tier104 can include a first application tier (APP) switch 138 and a secondAPP switch 140. In a particular embodiment, the first APP switch 138 canbe connected to the second APP switch 140. The first APP switch 138 canbe connected to an application server 142 and to an OSS/BSS gateway 144.The application server 142 provides applications to the set-top boxdevices 116 and 124 via the private access network 166, so the set-topbox devices 116 and 124 can provide functions such as display,messaging, processing of IPTV data and VOD material. In a particularembodiment, the OSS/BSS gateway 144 includes operation systems andsupport (OSS) data, as well as billing systems and support (BSS) data.

The second APP switch 140 can be connected to a domain controller 146that provides web access to users via the public network 112. The secondAPP switch 140 can be connected to a subscriber and system store 148that includes account information, such as account information that isassociated with users who access the system 100 via the private network110 or the public network 112. In a particular embodiment, theapplication tier 104 can also include a client gateway 150 thatcommunicates data directly to the client-facing tier 102. In thisembodiment, the client gateway 150 can be connected directly to the CFTswitch 130. The client gateway 150 can provide user access to theprivate network 110 and the tiers connected thereto.

In a particular embodiment, the set-top box devices 116 and 124 canaccess the system via the private access network 166 using informationreceived from the client gateway 150. The private access network 166provides security for the private network 110. User devices can accessthe client gateway 150 via the private access network 166, and theclient gateway 150 can allow such devices to access the private network110 once the devices are authenticated or verified. Similarly, theclient gateway 150 can prevent unauthorized devices, such as hackercomputers or stolen set-top box devices, from accessing the privatenetwork 110 by denying access to these devices beyond the private accessnetwork 166.

For example, when the set-top box device 116 accesses the system 100 viathe private access network 166, the client gateway 150 can verifysubscriber information by communicating with the subscriber and systemstore 148 via the private network 110, the first APP switch 138 and thesecond APP switch 140. Further, the client gateway 150 can verifybilling information and status by communicating with the OSS/BSS gateway144 via the private network 110 and the first APP switch 138. TheOSS/BSS gateway 144 can transmit a query across the first APP switch138, to the second APP switch 140, and the second APP switch 140 cancommunicate the query across the public network 112 to the OSS/BSSserver 164. After the client gateway 150 confirms subscriber and/orbilling information, the client gateway 150 can allow the set-top boxdevice 116 access to IPTV content and VOD content. If the client gateway150 cannot verify subscriber information for the set-top box device 116,such as because it is connected to a different twisted pair, the clientgateway 150 can deny transmissions to and from the set-top box device116 beyond the private access network 166.

The acquisition tier 106 includes an acquisition tier (AQT) switch 152that communicates with the private network 110. The AQT switch 152 canalso communicate with the operations and management tier 108 via thepublic network 112. In a particular embodiment, the AQT switch 152 canbe connected to a live acquisition server 154 that receives televisioncontent, for example, from a broadcast service 156. Further, the AQTswitch can be connected to a video-on-demand importer server 158 thatstores television content received at the acquisition tier 106 andcommunicate the stored content to the client-facing tier 102 via theprivate network 110.

The operations and management tier 108 can include an operations andmanagement tier (OMT) switch 160 that conducts communication between theoperations and management tier 108 and the public network 112. In theillustrated embodiment, the OMT switch 160 is connected to a TV2 server162. Additionally, the OMT switch 160 can be connected to an OSS/BSSserver 164 and to a simple network management protocol (SNMP) monitor167 that monitors network devices. In a particular embodiment, the OMTswitch 160 can communicate with the AQT switch 152 via the publicnetwork 112.

In a particular embodiment during operation of the IPTV system, the liveacquisition server 154 can acquire television content from the broadcastservice 156. The live acquisition server 154 in turn can transmit thetelevision content to the AQT switch 152 and the AQT switch can transmitthe television content to the CFT switch 130 via the private network110. Further, the television content can be encoded at the D-servers132, and the CFT switch 130 can communicate the television content tothe modems 114 and 122 via the private access network 166. The set-topbox devices 116 and 124 can receive the television content from themodems 114 and 122, decode the television content, and transmit thecontent to the display devices 118 and 126 according to commands fromthe remote control devices 120 and 128.

Additionally, at the acquisition tier 106, the VOD importer server 158can receive content from one or more VOD sources outside the IPTV system100, such as movie studios and programmers of non-live content. The VODimporter server 158 can transmit the VOD content to the AQT switch 152,and the AQT switch 152 in turn can communicate the material to the CFTswitch 130 via the private network 110. The VOD content can be stored atone or more servers, such as the VOD server 136.

When a user issues a request for VOD content to the set-top box device116 or 124, the request can be transmitted over the private accessnetwork 166 to the VOD server 136 via the CFT switch 130. Upon receivingsuch a request, the VOD server 136 can retrieve requested VOD contentand transmit the content to the set-top box device 116 or 124 across theprivate access network 166 via the CFT switch 130. In an illustrativeembodiment, the live acquisition server 154 can transmit the televisioncontent to the AQT switch 152, and the AQT switch 152 in turn cantransmit the television content to the OMT switch 160 via the publicnetwork 112. In this embodiment, the OMT switch 160 can transmit thetelevision content to the TV2 server 162 for display to users accessingthe user interface at the TV2 server. For example, a user can access theTV2 server 162 using a personal computer (PC) 168 connected to thepublic network 112.

The domain controller 146 communicates with the public network 112 viathe second APP switch 140. Additionally, the domain controller 146 cancommunicate via the public network 112 with the PC 168. For example, thedomain controller 146 can display a web portal via the public network112 and allow users to access the web portal using the PC 168. Further,in an illustrative embodiment, the domain controller 146 can communicatewith at least one wireless network access point 178 over a data network176. In this embodiment, each wireless network access device 178 cancommunicate with user wireless devices such as a cellular telephone 184.

In a particular embodiment, the set-top box devices can include an STBcomputer program 174 that is embedded within the STB memory device 172.The STB computer program 174 can contain instructions to receive andexecute at least one user television viewing preference that a user hasentered by accessing an Internet user account via the domain controller146. For example, the user can use the PC 168 to access a web portalmaintained by the domain controller 146 via the Internet. The domaincontroller 146 can query the subscriber and system store 148 via theprivate network 110 for account information associated with the user. Ina particular embodiment, the account information can associate theuser's Internet account with the second set-top box device 124. Forinstance, in an illustrative embodiment, the account information canrelate the user's account to the second set-top box device 124 byassociating the user account with an IP address of the second set-topbox device, with data relating to one or more twisted pairs connectedwith the second set-top box device, with data related to one or morefiber optic cables connected with the second set-top box device, with analphanumeric identifier of the second set-top box device, with any otherdata that is suitable for associating the second set-top box device witha user account, or with any combination of these.

The STB computer program 174 can contain instructions to receive manytypes of user preferences from the domain controller 146 via the accessnetwork 166. For example, the STB computer program 174 can includeinstructions to receive a request to record at least one televisionprogram at a video content storage module such as a digital videorecorder (DVR) 182 within the second set-top box device 124. In thisexample embodiment, the STB computer program 174 can includeinstructions to transmit the request to the DVR 182, where thetelevision program(s) are recorded. In an illustrative embodiment, theSTB computer program 174 can include instructions to receive from theDVR 182 a recording status with respect to one or more of the televisionprograms and to transmit at least one message regarding the status to awireless device, such as the cellular telephone 184. The message can bereceived at the CFT switch 130, for instance, and communicated to thedomain controller 146 across the private network 110 via the second APPswitch 140. Further, the domain controller 146 can transmit the messageto the wireless data network 176, directly or via the public network112, and on to the wireless network access point 178. The message canthen be transmitted to the cellular telephone 184. In an illustrativeembodiment, the status can be sent via a wireless access protocol (WAP).Various aspects of the present disclosure relating to the screensavermode will be better understood with respect to FIGS. 2-15 below.

FIG. 2 illustrates, in flow diagram form, a method of implementing ascreensaver mode of operation at a data processing in accordance with aspecific embodiment of the present disclosure. At a node 211, anindicator is received at the data processing device to enter ascreensaver mode. The indicator can be provided in response to a timeoutdue to inactivity at the processing device, in response to a specificuser action that places the processing device in screensaver mode, or inresponse to other indicators. It will be appreciated that the methodillustrated at FIG. 2 can be implemented at any data processing deviceassociated with a display, such as at set-top-box 116, set-top box 126,user PC 168, user PC 177, cell phone 184, and the like. For purposes ofdescription, unless otherwise stated, it is presumed that the method ofFIG. 2 is being implemented at user PC 168, and that upon receiving theindicator a screensaver module, which can be hardware or software at thedata processing device, at user PC 168, implements the screensaver mode.

At node 212, after entering screensaver mode, a search query istransmitted from the screensaver module to a search engine, such as fromuser PC 168 to web-based search engine 181 of FIG. 1. For example,during screensaver mode a search query can be transmitted to one or moresearch engines, such as Yahoo, Google, and the like.

At node 213, a set of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) is received atthe data processing device from the search engine in response to thesearch query. The received URLs reference specific network locationswhere information matching the search criteria is found. For purposes ofdiscussion, it is presumed that the search criteria of the screensaverquery was limited to requests for image files. The term “image files,”as used herein is intended to mean files having types primarilyassociated with images. The image files can be still image files orvideo files. Examples of image files include .JPG files, .TIF files,.GIF files, .MPG and the like.

At node 214, the processing device provides to a display device imagecontent referred to by URLs of the set of URLs received at node 213,thereby sequentially displaying images at the display device duringscreensaver mode.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method disclosing a specific embodiment ofentering screensaver mode. Specifically, flow begins at node 331 whereit is determined whether or not a sufficient amount of user inactivityhas occurred at the data processor device. If so, flow proceeds to node333 where the screensaver mode indicator is provided to the dataprocessor to initiate screensaver mode should be entered. Otherwise,flow proceeds from node 331 to node 332, where it is determined whetheror not a user action has occurred to cause the screensaver modeindicator to be generated. If so, flow proceeds to node 333, otherwiseflow returns to node 331 until screensaver mode is entered.

FIG. 4 shows a screen shot of a preference window 340 being displayed atthe display device of the data processor where operation of screensavermode can get configured prior to entering screensaver mode. Desiredsubject matter of the search criteria can be entered by the user at thepreference window 340 at input field labeled “FIELD 1”, at input fieldlabeled “FIELD 2”. Pre-defined options labeled “OPTION 1”, “OPTION 2”,and “OPTION 3” are user selectable by enabling associated indicators,such as radio button. The screensaver module will use the user inputsand selections provided at the preference window 340 to generate andtransmit a search query to a search engine as previously described atnode 212 of FIG. 2. For example, the user could provide search criteriaby entering the term “sailboat” t FIELD 1, and enabling one of theoptions OPTION 1 through OPTION 3 that limits the search to stillimages. Note that in a specific embodiment, FIELD 2 can represent asecond set of search criteria that is also searched upon enteringscreensaver mode, a URL to a search engine to be used, or any otherinformation.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a method in accordance with anotherembodiment of defining search criteria to be used during screensavermode. At node 351, the user performs a search at a search engine websiteusing a browser. For example, the user could submit the word “sailboat”as the search criteria at the search engine website.

At node 352, criteria from the last search performed by the user arereceived at the screensaver module from the search engine. For example,a browser applet can store the last performed search at a locationaccessible by the screensaver module. In one embodiment, the browserapplet can store the last performed search criteria at a memory locationcorresponding to a field, such as FIELD 2, of the preference window ofFIG. 4, whereby the last search would be displayed at FIELD 2. Note thatone of OPTION 1 through OPTION 3 illustrated at the preference window340 can be selected to indicate that the screensaver module is to usethe last search criteria provided by the user to a search engine priorto entering screensaver mode.

At node 353, the user search can be modified by the screensaver module.For example, the user provided search criteria of “sailboat” can befurther qualified to indicate only image files of sailboats are to beidentified. It will be appreciated that other search criteria can beadded to the user provided search criteria as well. For example, acriteria requesting content appropriate for a certain age group, or acriteria excluding URLs can be specified.

At node 354, the modified search query is transmitted from thescreensaver module to the search engine as a result of enteringscreensaver mode. At node 355, the set of URLs based upon the modifiedsearch criteria is returned to the data processor from the searchengine.

A representation of a set of URL returned from a search engine inresponse to the search query by the screensaver module is illustrated atFIG. 6. Specifically illustrated at FIG. 6 is a table containing URLslabeled LINK1-LINKn, where “n” is an integer indicating the total numberof URLs. It will be appreciated that each of these URLs references anetwork file, such as an image file, deemed by the search engine to meetthe search criteria.

FIG. 7 illustrates a sequence of images displayed at a display deviceduring screensaver mode, as indicated at node 214 of FIG. 2. Forexample, during screensaver image 371 is displayed during a first time,image 272 is displayed during a second time, image 373 is displayedduring a third time, and so on. FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of amethod of sequentially displaying images during screensaver mode inaccordance with a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, whereat node 381, a request to access a file, such as an image file,referenced by LINK1 is provided by the screensaver module. At node 382,the file referenced by the LINK1 is displayed at the display device. Atnode 383, a delay is introduced indicating how long to wait before theimage being displayed at the display device is updated. In oneembodiment, the delay can be provided by a user to a field of thepreviously described preference window (FIG. 4). At node 384, a requestto access a file referenced by a next link, e.g., LINK2, is provided bythe screensaver module, and downloaded to the data processor andprepared for display. At node 385, the next image is displayed, therebyreplacing the prior image. It will be appreciated, that the next imageto be displayed can be downloaded during the wait described at node 383.Furthermore, in accordance with a specific embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a downloaded image is not stored locally subsequent to beingdisplayed thereby reducing required storage space. The flow of FIG. 8returns to node 383 to facilitate sequentially displaying images duringscreensaver mode.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an alternate screensaver mode, whereby imagesreceived as a result of the user-defined search query are providedsequentially along with priority images. For example, referring to FIG.9, the images 371, 372, and 373 previously illustrated at FIG. 7, whichwere identified by a user-defined search, continue to be displayed.However, priority images 391 and 392 are now being interlaced along withthe images 371-373. As specifically illustrated at FIG. 9, image 371 isdisplayed at a first time, priority image 391 is displayed at secondtime, retrieved image 372 is displayed at a third time, priority image392 is displayed at a fourth time, retrieved image 373 is displayed at afifth time, and so on. The priority images can be images provided byadvertisers, or other images that is not specifically retrieved as aresult of the user search. FIG. 10 illustrates in flow diagram form, amethod in accordance with providing the interlaced priority images.

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of sequentiallydisplaying images during screensaver mode in accordance with a specificembodiment of the present disclosure, where at node 411, a request toaccess a file referenced by LINK1 is provided by the screensaver module.At node 412, the file referenced by the LINK1 is displayed at thedisplay device. At node 413, a delay is introduced indicating how longto wait before the image being displayed at the display device isupdated. In one embodiment, the delay can be provided by a user to afield of the previously described preference window (FIG. 4). At node416 a determination is made whether the image reference by the nextretrieved link is to be displayed. If so, flow proceeds to node 414,otherwise flow proceed to node 417. At node 417, instead of downloadinga next file referenced by a retrieved link, a priority image isdisplayed before flow returns to node 413. When the image at the nextretrieved link is to be displayed, flow proceeds to node 414. At node414, a request to access a file referenced by a next link, e.g., LINK2,is provided by the screensaver module and downloaded by the screensavermodule. At node 415, the next image is displayed, thereby replacing theprior image. The flow of FIG. 10 returns to node 413 from node 415 tofacilitate sequentially displaying additional images during screensavermode.

FIGS. 11-14 illustrate various embodiments of screensaver mode features.FIG. 11 illustrates a flow diagram of a method in accordance with aspecific embodiment of the present disclosure, where at node 421, adetermination is made whether or not an action has occurred at a firstinput device. The first input device can be a mouse, a keyboard, abutton, a touch screen, and the like. If an action has occurred, flowproceeds to node 423 where a user selectable region is displayed at adisplay device in response to the occurrence. For example, referring toFIG. 12, image 451 is a current image being displayed at a displaydevice during screensaver mode prior to the user action occurring at thefirst device. Upon detecting the action, the screensaver module displaysthe user selectable regions 461-463 along with the current image, whichincludes sailboat 456. Examples of specific actions include moving amouse to cause cursor movement, pressing a mouse button, e.g., clickingthe mouse button, pressing specific keyboard keys, and the like.

The flow proceeds to node 422 from node 421 if an action is not detectedat the first input device. At node 422, a determination is made whetheror not an action has been detected at a second input device. Forexample, the second input device can be a keyboard while the first inputdevice is a mouse. If no action is detected at node 422, flow returns tonode 421, otherwise flow proceeds to node 430. At node 430, thescreensaver mode is exited to resume a different operating mode at thedata processor, such as a normal mode of operation.

Subsequent to displaying a user-selectable region at node 423, flowproceeds to node 424. At node 424 a determination is made whether or nota first user selectable region, such as region 461 of FIG. 10, has beenselected by a user. If so, the flow proceeds to node 431, otherwise,flow proceeds to node 425. At node 425 a determination is made whetheror not a first user selectable region, such as region 462 of FIG. 10,has been selected by a user. If so, flow proceeds to node 432,otherwise, flow proceeds to node 426. At node 426, a determination ismade whether or not a third user selectable region, such as region 463of FIG. 10, has been selected by a user. If so, flow proceeds to node433, otherwise, flow proceeds to node 427. At node 427, a determinationis made whether or not a timeout criteria has been met for thescreensaver mode. If so, flow proceeds to node 434, otherwise, flowreturns to node 424 to continue monitoring for a selected region.

It will be appreciated that each user selectable region is associatedwith a different action. For example, at node 431 a save action isperformed in response to the first user selectable region beingselected. The save action can save the image being displayed at to thedata processor, save the link referencing the image being displayed, andthe like. At node 432 a change-of-operation action is performed inresponse to the second user selectable region being selected. Thechange-of-operation action results in screensaver mode being exited, anda different mode of operation being entered. For example, the dataprocessor can return to a normal mode of operation. At node 433 achange-of-power action is performed in response to the third userselectable region being selected. The change-of-power action results inthe data processor entering a different power state, such as a low-powermode of operation, an off mode, and the like. At node 434 an action isperformed in response to a timeout occurring, such as an inactivitytime, during screensaver mode. The action can include a change-of-poweraction, a change-of-operation action, and the like. It will beappreciated that there are many other actions that can be associatedwith the user selectable regions of FIG. 12. For example, in response toa user selectable region being selected a user input field can bedisplayed, while remaining in screensaver mode, such as user input field476 illustrated at FIG. 13, that allows the user to input a new searchcriteria, that results in a new set of links being retrieved and imagesgenerated. Therefore, FIG. 14 illustrates an image displayed by thescreensaver mode after the user has modified the search criteria to bebased upon the term “cars”. In another embodiment, in addition to savingthe image being displayed, another operation associated with the savedimage can be performed, such as preparing an email including the image,identifying the image as an available or current wallpaper, and thelike. Selection of a user-selectable region can result in opening aspecific application, such as a browser, as part of a normal operatingmode of the data processor, or dialing a defined phone number.

FIG. 14 shows an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system600 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The computer system 600 can include a set of instructionsthat can be executed to cause the computer system 600 to perform any oneor more of the methods or computer based functions disclosed herein. Thecomputer system 600 may operate as a standalone device or may beconnected, e.g., using a network, to other computer systems orperipheral devices.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 600 can alsobe implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as: apersonal computer (PC); a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a handhelddevice such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, apalmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, acommunications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, acontrol system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, apager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router,switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set ofinstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that machine. In a particular embodiment, the computer system 600 canbe implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single computer system 600 isillustrated, the term “system” shall also be taken to include anycollection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointlyexecute a set or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or morecomputer functions.

The computer system 600 may include a processor 602, e.g., a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both.Moreover, the computer system 600 can include a main memory 604 and astatic memory 606 that can communicate with each other via a bus 608. Asshown, the computer system 600 may further include a video display unit610, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emittingdiode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid state display, or a cathoderay tube (CRT). Additionally, the computer system 600 may include aninput device 612, such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device 614,such as a mouse. The computer system 600 can also include a disk driveunit 616, a signal generation device 618, such as a speaker or remotecontrol, and a network interface device 620.

In a particular embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 6, the disk drive unit616 may include a computer-readable medium 622 in which one or more setsof instructions 624, e.g. software, can be embedded. Further, theinstructions 624 may embody one or more of the methods or logic asdescribed herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions 624 mayreside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory 604,the static memory 606, and/or within the processor 602 during executionby the computer system 600. The main memory 604 and the processor 602also may include computer-readable media. The network interface device620 can provide connectivity to a network 626, e.g., a wide area network(WAN), a local area network (LAN), or other network.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations such asapplication specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can be constructed to implement one or more ofthe methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium thatincludes instructions 624, or receives and executes instructions 624,responsive to a propagated signal, so that a device connected to anetwork 626 can communicate voice, video or data over the network 626.Further, the instructions 624 may be transmitted or received over thenetwork 626 via the network interface device 620.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, theterm “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiplemedia, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associatedcaches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term“computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally,the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capturecarrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmissionmedium. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or other self-containedinformation archive or set of archives may be considered a distributionmedium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, thedisclosure is considered to include any one or more of acomputer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalentsand successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the FIGs. are to be regarded as illustrative rather thanrestrictive.

For example, the various fields and options illustrated at FIG. 4 can beassociated with various other options. For example, one or more optionfields of a preference window could be used to enable a content checkerto ensure only child appropriate content is displayed during screensavermode. The content checker can be a feature of the search engine, or afeature local to the data processor. Similarly, the data processingdevice implementing the described screensaver mode can be a handhelddevice, that can include a mobile phone. Such a handheld device caninclude a touch screen, whereby data entry into the preference window,for example, is via the touch screen. Also, with respect to a dataprocessor having a touch screed, an input device can include the touchscreen, whereby a user action at the touch screen, for example, wouldprovide user-selectable region, such as a pop-up menu or button, thatcan be selected by the user by touching the screen to execute a definedactions, such as those described herein.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be usedto interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition,in the foregoing Detailed Description of the Drawings, various featuresmay be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for thepurpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to beinterpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodimentsrequire more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may bedirected to less than all of the features of any of the disclosedembodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into theDetailed Description of the Drawings, with each claim standing on itsown as defining separately claimed subject matter.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present disclosed subject matter. Thus, tothe maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosedsubject matter is to be determined by the broadest permissibleinterpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shallnot be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.

1. A method comprising: entering a screensaver mode of operation; inresponse to entering the screensaver mode, transmitting a searchcriteria identifying requested subject matter; receiving a set of URLsbased upon the search criteria; and sequentially providing, for displayat a display device during screensaver mode, image content referenced byURLs of the set of URLs during the screensaver mode.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 wherein sequentially providing image content further comprisesonly providing image content referenced by URLs to image files.
 3. Themethod of claim 2 wherein sequentially providing image content furthercomprises only providing image content referenced by URLs to still imagefiles.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein sequentially providing imagecontent further comprises only displaying content referenced by URLs tovideo image files.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the transmittedsearch criteria is limited to image files.
 6. The method of claim 1further comprising receiving the requested subject matter from a userprior to entering the screensaver mode.
 7. The method of claim 4 whereinthe requested subject matter is received from the user through apreference interface associated with the screensaver mode.
 8. The methodof claim 4 wherein the requested subject matter is received from theuser as a result of a last search query to a web-based search engine. 9.The method of claim 1 wherein sequentially providing further comprisesproviding, for display at the display device, a first image contentreferenced by a first URL simultaneous with a user-selectable region,the user-selectable region associated with a defined action.
 10. Themethod of claim 7 wherein the defined action is to store informationrelating to a currently displayed content.
 11. The method of claim 8wherein the defined action is to store content referenced by a URLassociated with the currently displayed image to a memory device. 12.The method of claim 9 wherein the defined action further identifies thestored content as current wallpaper background.
 13. The method of claim8 wherein the defined action is to store the URL of the currentlydisplayed content.
 14. The method of claim 7 wherein the defined actionis to exit screensaver mode and open a website page within a browserreferenced by a URL associated with the currently displayed image. 15.The method of claim 7 wherein the defined action is to create an e-mailmessage having an attachment with content referenced by a linkassociated with the currently displayed image.
 16. The method of claim 7wherein the defined action is to allow a user to enter a new searchcriteria at a field provided at the display device during screensavermode; and further, in response to receiving the new search criteria fromthe user: transmitting a new search request based on the new searchcriteria identifying new requested subject matter; receiving a new setof URLs based upon the new search criteria; and sequentially providing,for display at a display device, image content referenced by URLs of thenew set of URLs during the screensaver mode.
 17. The method of claim 7wherein the user-selectable region is provided for display at thedisplay device in response to an action at a first input device.
 18. Themethod of claim 15 further comprising: exiting screensaver mode inresponse to an action at a second input device.
 19. The method of claim16 wherein the first input device is a mouse, and the second inputdevice is a keyboard.
 20. The method of claim 15 wherein the action atthe first input device is a cursor being moved.
 21. The method of claim15 wherein the action at the first device is a mouse click.
 22. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the search criteria indicates the search is toprovide child appropriate content.
 23. The method of claim 1 whereinsequentially providing includes sequentially providing only imagecontent determined to be child appropriate.
 24. A method comprising:entering a screensaver mode of operation at a handheld communicationdevice; in response to entering the screensaver mode, transmitting fromthe handheld communication device a search criteria identifyingrequested subject matter; receiving, at the handheld communicationdevice, a set of URLs based upon the search criteria; and sequentiallydisplaying, at a display of the handheld communication device during thescreensaver mode, image content referenced by URLs of the set of URLsduring the screensaver mode.
 25. A system comprising: a handheld devicecoupled to a network; the handheld device to enter a screensaver mode ofoperation, and in response to entering the screensaver mode of operationthe handheld device is to receive a set of URLs based upon a transmittedsearch criteria; and image content referenced by URLs of the set of URLsto be sequentially displayed at the handheld device during thescreensaver mode.